Ever wonder how priorities are set regarding roadway work throughout Logan County?

Dead ash trees such as these leaning toward County Road 39 pose a potential hazard to traffic. Currently, there is no plan to remove such hazards that are not in the road rights-of-way. (EXAMINER PHOTO | JOEL E. MAST)

Spurred by a recent fatal crash at county roads 31 and 43, James Whitman began to consider what he was observing and wrote a message to County Engineer Scott Coleman mentioning his specific concerns.

“I don’t want you to think I’m just complaining,” Mr. Whitman wrote. “I very much appreciate all the hard work in road maintenance. I’m just trying to be a good citizen and help generate some awareness in hopes that it might help make our roads as safe as possible.”

He pointed out dead ash trees along roadways, foliage overgrowth that can hinder sight lines, loose gravel at intersections from chip-and-seal paving methods, overgrown ditches that could hide approaching wildlife and lack of pavement markings on some township roads.

Ash trees have been devastated by the emerald ash borer over the past several years.

Mr. Coleman said his highway crews have been clearing dead ash trees from county rights-of-way along with overhanging limbs which are within the county’s authority.

Ash trees outside the rights-of-way are the responsibility of the property owners and there is no current plan to address dead trees on private property.

Funding would be the biggest issue, Mr. Coleman said, and it would have to be an operation dedicated to tree removal such as the county’s recent National Emergency Grant-backed program.

County crews are on the lookout for dead limbs and foliage overgrowth, Mr. Coleman said, and it helps when citizens point out issues they notice.